Thousands of poor students and parents who flocked the Department of Social Welfare and Development local headquarters walked back home empty-handed and disappointed.
“This is unacceptable. How can government social workers refuse to heed the orders of the court? Beyond the legal imperative, how can government social workers not empathize with the sufferings of the child and the father whose reunion has been blocked again and again?”
By DEE AYROSO
Incoming Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano and incoming Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo vowed to continue serving the people. Mariano said he would strengthen the possession of farmer-beneficiaries to the lands while Taguiwalo said she would ensure that the services and programs of government actually reach the people.
“Many victims were disqualified simply because of their residence location and receipt of little aid from local officials.”
Taken all together, the measures chosen and the manner by which these are implemented by the government since Day 1 of the disaster show its utter insensitivity to the plight of the survivors and its incompetence in providing for the needs of the Filipino people — Agham
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Just as they arrived back in their community (after the barricade last week), Kagawad Jose and all those who participated in the Kampuhan at the DSWD were harassed by the Barangay Captain and the military from the 67th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army. Supposedly, she was on her way to Davao City after the session to report the cases of human rights violations, but she was brutally killed.” – Karapatan–SMR
By TILDE ACUÑA
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
What farmworkers need is land; they legally own Hacienda Luisita and the recent SC decision affirmed that. They should be given all the help they need to make the land fully productive again.” – UMA
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“This flagship program of Aquino is just a palliative measure. People don’t need dole-outs. What they really need is a permanent job.” – Gloria Arellano, president of Kadamay
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“The government should have given us permanent jobs instead of this (conditional cash transfer). Money is not permanent, we lose it in a day, unlike when we have a permanent job, we would somehow have permanent resources to spend for our needs,” – Angie Lorenzo, beneficiary